Sunny day, everyday a better day

T by Alexander Wang blazer, Vince chambray shirt, Hermès belt, Zara pants, Louis Vuitton flats, Marc Jacobs bag

Easy outfit for those gorgeous yet noncommittally sunny days (still chilly hmph) with a couple pops of color, on my way to beast on two dozen oysters at Whole Foods' oyster happy hour (portion control, what's that?) Anyway, been getting a lot of questions over on my tumblr, I always answer them even if it takes a few days so if you've asked something, please check back every now and then!

Chance is like a picture, just take it

H&M denim shirt, Topshop leopard belt, Cotton + Candy midi skirt, Fossil cork heels, Banana Republic bag

I'm not really a lip color girl because I like to eat and not worry about reapplying or if it's somehow all over my face and/or teeth (the horror), but when it finally broke 70-degrees last Friday (first time since November.. called for a serious celebration), I had to break out my new favorite shade, this bright coral/orange from Stila called Outrageous. It was the perfect weather to end a workweek and kickoff Seattle Beer Week so we went to Tom Douglas' Brave Horse Tavern for pretzels (why are carbs so good) and pitchers all night long.

Sunshine, sunshine it's fine, I feel it in my skin, warming up my mind

Forever 21 top, Plenty by Tracy Reese pleated silk skirt, Abercrombie & Fitch sandals

Light airy outfits are the best for humid weather (took these when we were in Cancun). I love the beading detail and sheer gauzy material of the top, plus the gorgeous folds and pleats of the skirt remind me of the Caribbean ocean and how the waves roll and crash into the shore. Probably one of the most therapeutic sounds on earth. Anyway, I must say for how infrequently I visit A&F ("infrequently" aka never. Last time was over half a decade ago when I bought these leather flip flops, they've held up well) I do always crutch on these simple, yet not quite as casual as foam rubber flippies, leather sandals come summertime.

Façade

Boy. by Band of Outsiders shirt, Anthropologie sweat shorts, Topshop tights, I.T booties

These shorts are made from the most comfortable lounging sweat material yet the waistline is like dress pants, they dress down the the outfit while still remaining tailored, which works with this button up that is just so perfectly constructed and fitted I didn't even have to bring it to my tailor to chop up. Juxtaposed in front of this long-abandoned factory that is now just a façade, I have a fascination with desolate lots and lonely places no one frequents anymore.

Hey Pretty Anniversary - 1 year recap!

This coming Friday marks the 1 year anniversary of my blog! Time goes by so fast. What started as a fun hobby has grown so much. Thank you all for the kind words and support, it's been great getting to know some of you. Life is very unexpected and I'm excited for the year to come. Here are 5 of my favorite outfit posts from the past year along with commentary on behind-the-scenes stuff.

12.17.2010 Every act of creation is first an act of destruction | Zoa sheer asymmetrical button up, Shipley & Halmos high waisted pants, Dries Van Noten booties

My boyfriend and I drove by this industrial lot in West Seattle and thought it'd be cool to take pictures here (officer, what "no trespassing" sign? jk That didn't happen thankfully). The ground was slick with oil leaks and a thick smell of gasoline hung in the air, plus it's pretty rad that huge machine in the back looks like Bumblebee.

1.04.2011 It's called the past because I'm getting past | Rag & Bone leather jacket, Helmut Lang top, Urban Outfitters eternity scarf, F21 jeggings and over the knee boots

So my bf calls this pose "like a boss" and would instruct me to strike it if the outfit/mood is right. We're dorks.

3.15.2011 Tell me, did you sail across the sun? | 3.1 Phillip Lim trench coat, Dries Van Noten boots, ASOS fur snood

Here I was by the Brooklyn bridge directly across from the New York skyline. The shots turned out nice because of golden hour, you might not be able to tell with my poker face but I was pissed because that day was so ridiculously cold and windy and those boots hurt to walk in.

Make beautiful things out of dust

Rag & Bone leather jacket, Surface to Air top, Sea reptile printed leggings, Givenchy lace up boots

This insanely tagged up building in Seattle used to be a spa until a couple years ago it was discovered to be a brothel and then condemned. I feel like the colorful graffiti is such an eerie offset to the desolate lot. One thing I love about shooting is that my boyfriend (I get asked this question a lot about who is my photographer) and I roam around and find these awesome spots, it's a fun hobby we share. We literally shot these before grocery shopping yesterday (I changed into flats.. felt weird going into Whole Foods wearing 5-inch heels). Anyway, I like these reptile printed leggings especially for the thick elastic bandaging detail around the lower leg that peep out from the boots if you look closely, easy to wear with all black since they're crazy enough on their own.

Lula - Chicago

Cute quaint brunch cafe in Chicago in the Logan Square neighborhood. Brunch is probably my favorite meal.. I love that it implies weekend and sleeping in, and there's a mix between breakfast and foods you eat the rest of the day.

Addicted to coffee, doesn't feel like the day has begun without it.

Cottage cheese griddle cakes with blackberry sauce. So light and creamy from the cottage cheese and a bit of tang from the berry.

Braised pork fried egg torta with Mexican cheese. We usually like to get something savory to offset all the sweetness, this sandwich was amazing and got me hooked on Oaxaca cheese, now I want it on everything.

Tres de leche French toast with apple chutney. Usually use the French toast to gauge how good a brunch place is, this one was so moist and creamy.. delicious!

To do: 1. love 2. dream 3. be free

Anthropologie aviators, Surface to Air shirt, Topshop leopard belt, NastyGal tail skirt, Fossil heels, Marc Jacobs bag

Finally was a 70-degree day this weekend, first time I bared bare legs probably all year. Something about sun makes the day completely perfect. Boyfriend and I strolled around Pike Place Market (thank God for comfortable 5-inch cork heels.. seemingly contradicting but yeah I said it. Though probably still relatively low on the scale of comfortability if you throw, let's say, UGGs in the picture) and picked up fresh flowers, local chocolates, and a box of my favorite macarons from Le Panier for his mom's birthday later. Can't think of a better ending to that than with an evening celebration of steak dinner, wine and time with his family.

First of many posts of tail skirts/dresses (when the back is longer than the front). Obsessed with that silhouette lately so I picked up a bunch, they're fun in the wind and flow so beautifully.. but beware of unanticipated Marilyn Monroe moments when sudden gusts swoop under. That's when my ninja reflexes saved my butt (from overexposure), literally.